Case in point: Tom Morris, and his son, Matt. Tom's a philosophy Ph.D., and author of multiple books like IF ARISTOTLE RAN GENERAL MOTORS, PHILOSOPHY FOR DUMMIES, and many others. Tom's also maybe the most positive guy I know, and is definitely the best public speaker I've seen (we got a chance to catch him in his thriving second career as corporate speaker when he did his thing in San Diego in February).

Why am I talking about Tom and what's this have to do with anything pop culture-related? Well, Tom's also the guy who's responsible for Scott Tipton and I getting published in an upcoming book.

Scott and I have had another project in the works for quite some time now -- and Tom's done more than his share to help shepherd that project along, too -- but while that hasn't quite found a way to light the literary world on fire (yet), Tom got us involved in another, one that's being published and hitting stores next month.

You might've already seen me slip the book's image into our sidebar, allowing people the chance to pre-order it, but here's the specifics of it.

By the way, pardon the commercial break this column might sound like, but I'm actually talking about this because I think it's very cool to be associated with. I rarely mention anything to do with the job at IDW Publishing or about other "side ventures" like this, but since I'm pretty excited about them and since some published works are finally making their way to the market, it seems time to talk about some of this stuff. After all, if moving to San Diego has meant less opportunities to attend screenings or events, there must be some reason I've done it, right? This is it.

Anyway, Tom has written for a HARRY POTTER AND PHILOSOPHY book, which will sit alongside the other "pop culture and philosophy" books that are designed to apply philosophical tenets to familiar and relatable subjects like THE SIMPSONS, BUFFY, SEINFELD or the new STAR WARS AND PHILOSOPHY. Tom's son Matt has helped foster his growing appreciation for comics, an interest that Tipton's COMICS 101 column also helped stimulate. So we all got to talking over the past couple years. There came a time when Tom sold the idea of he and Matt editing a book called SUPERHEROES AND PHILOSOPHY. In this book, philosophers and comics pros alike would contribute essays that look at comic book characters and situations through the lens of philosophical principals. Apply some deeper thinking to an industry that doesn't always delve into such things.

I'd been helping Tom track down future contributors to the book, folks like comics legend Denny O'Neil, Jeph Loeb, and Mark Waid. While talking about the book and comics in general--this was before I joined IDW--Tom asked if I wanted to contribute an essay to this book. Did I want to be published in a book alongside guys I've admired and read for years? Um, yeah. Did I feel like I was equipped to write a deep, well-thought-out essay that applied philosophical thinking to comic books? An essay that would be featured in a book alongside comics pros and multiple Ph.D.s alike? Uh... of course I did!

At least, I told Tom I did...

I studied Philosophy in college, but, I mean, I also took aikido classes in college and I'm not exactly able to kick Steven Seagal's considerable ass. So this would take some work. But then again, all writing (other than this) requires some form of research. I could do this. As long as I didn't think about the fact that I'd be submitting an essay that had to earn its spot alongside all the other involved luminaries. And there was one other little factor at work here. I had a secret weapon. The "Ultimate Nullifier" for my fears and doubts, if you will (sorry for that--just trying to prove I belong discussing my chosen topic, looking at the family dynamic of the Fantastic Four). I had Scott Tipton in my corner. So Scott and I worked up the essay together, and I have to say, in the course of putting it together, I wasn't initially sure of what my main point was, but something strange happened. It started to all head toward a logical conclusion, one I was very happy with. It's nice (and rare) when that sort of thing happens.

So Scott and I put together what I think is a pretty solid essay, one I'm happy to see included in this book. Of course, how it's received remains to be seen. After Newsarama ran Mark Waid's SUPERMAN essay en masse, the talk-back forums there were decidely mixed. And this is Mark Waid talking SUPERMAN. So we'll see how we do with the fans.

We certainly didn't only say a quick bit and get out, though--Tipton and I offered up a 4,600-word treatise. Scott's read the entire book, and I've read some of the other essays. It's actually quite a good, accessible read, I think. But don't just take my word--I'll even offer up an except of our essay, right here:

The Fantastic Four as a Family: The Strongest Bond of All

When we reflect on the philosophical issues in superhero comics, we often tend to focus on the individual superhero, in the course of his or her adventures. And that’s natural. After all, it’s each individual who has been granted superpowers, and who has to choose whether to use those powers for good or evil. Elsewhere in this book, for example, there are numerous ruminations on the question of why individual heroes are good, electing to use their powers for the benefit of humanity, and why, by contrast, other powerful individuals might choose instead to be supervillains, acting in their own narrowly perceived self-interest, to society’s detriment. But there is of course more to think about in the classic superhero stories than just how and why individuals choose to act as they do. Aristotle (384-322 BC) believed that we are essentially social creatures. And that insight can direct us to another level of superhero life worth examining from a philosophical perspective.

In this chapter, we’ll focus on a concept that has been relatively neglected by most of the great philosophers over the centuries, but also one that’s of real importance for understanding both human nature and the human condition: the idea of the family. In particular, we’ll examine how a team of super-powered individuals can be bound together as a sort of family unit. In most comics, families are relegated to the background of the main narrative, in favor of colorful battles between super-powered individuals. A notable exception is Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four, whose family bonds are as much a part of their story as their adventures.

The First Family

Many super-teams lay claim to something like familial bonds. From the Justice League of America to the Teen Titans, the members of these units often proclaim that their teammates are more than just colleagues in fighting crime, that “they’re family.” This is even a pretty common theme in comics, almost as common as the shake-up of such teams. Whether through membership changes, internal strife, or solo pursuits, the individuals in these teams inevitably drift apart and back together at various times. The commitment that’s distinctive of family is spoken of but, normally, seems not to be truly felt. The Fantastic Four, despite many similarities to these other teams, are somehow different. This team has seen its members stick together for over forty years of adventures. Why? How does the existence of true family bonds hold its members together while other teams change with seeming inevitability?

Of course, long-time careful readers know that even the Fantastic Four has disbanded temporarily and seen the occasional additional member come and go, but, overall, they are still in a different category from any of the other superhero teams. They display a commitment and a form of continuity not often seen in the world of superheroes. Indeed, the Fantastic Four, as created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and perpetuated by many others over the years, are often referred to as “the First Family of Marvel Comics.” The fact that two of the four members of the team are really siblings (Johnny Storm and Susan Storm-Richards) provides us with the first clue as to why they behave as more of a family than other teams. Add in a third member, Reed Richards, being married to Sue, and you have a ready-made family core. However, it’s the fourth member who truly makes the team unique as a family unit when compared to any other group in comic-book history.

Ben Grimm, who came to be known as the Thing, is this fourth member of the team, and his only initial connection with the core family is through his friendship with Reed Richards. The two were college roommates and then comrades in the Army. Of course, friendships formed in college and the military often extend throughout lifetimes, so this, too, isn’t anything extraordinary — until you look closer.

An unfortunate side effect of Ben’s powers, which are super-strength and a bullet-proof exterior, is that he was terribly disfigured by the dramatic accident that gave the entire team their superpowers. What’s more, this accident was largely a result of Reed’s personal hubris, or overweening pride. This is not exactly a firm foundation for a lasting friendship or familial bonding.

There's much more to the essay, of course. That was essentially the first 2-1/2 pages of our 16-page piece. The funny thing is, in seeing the assembly of this book and reading everyone's bios, seeing my listing next to all these guys who've written numerous books and hold multiple Ph.D.s and other titles. There are people who studied at, like, the Sorbonne, and then there's a guy who serves as the Editor-in-Chief of a site called Movie Poop Shoot.

Of course, Scott and I aren't the only two Poop Shoot folks involved with the book -- patron saint Kevin contributed a dust jacket quote to the book, too. So it's a real family affair. And it's only $12 at Amazon! Actually, we're hoping to have some sort of presence with the book at this July's Comic-Con in SD, or do some sort of signing with Waid and whoever else. We'll see. I'm also going to try to get some copies for a giveaway here at the site, too.

So there you have it. All that to explain the little sidebar image I tacked up there a couple weeks ago. SUPERHEROES AND PHILOSOPHY--your way to read comics in public and not receive scorn from the masses.

SUPERHEROES AND PHILOSOPHY is available on May 10. 300 pages, too, so you have a lot to dig into. Before it becomes required reading in college philosophy classes, of course...

Next Week: Me and SHAUN OF THE LAND OF THE DEAD. Really. Maybe.

/chris

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